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Temples: Repositories of Truth

Why do we need temples? What, if anything, is their unique contribution to the world today? What prompted our ancestors to invest so much time, talent and treasure to create and maintain the Vedic temple system? Were they relevant only for older cultures that modern scientific communities consider ignorant and less sophisticated? Is it possible that perhaps they were more intelligent and in tune with the subtler energies of the universe than the cultures of the world are today?

From time immemorial, not only Hindus or rishi cultures, but cultures from all over the world in all traditions have been creating space for the Divine as part of their culture and lives. It is human nature. Researchers say that even animals living in groups allot a specific area for rest that is not used for eating or anything else.

The Hindu culture created huge temples for communities as a means to relate with the Divine. Every village in India has a temple, making one wonder why these huge, complex and beautiful structures were created, even if the homes in most villages were made of mud. Most of these temples are built in granite and are often much more expensive than the cost of all houses in these villages put together. What did we gain spiritually, culturally and socially from these huge structures?

"Hidden Mysteries"

A scientist named Dr. Rudolf conducted thirty years of research on the lifestyles of a group of tribes in the Amazon. These tribes believed that by creating an image of a particular person and by invoking that person’s energy into the clay image, they could heal or transmit any disease of that person, even if the person lived thousands of miles away. This scientist published papers and a book named Hidden Mysteries.

In them, he produced ample evidence and case studies showing that in ninety eight percent of his observations three things were evident. The first conclusion was that these tribes were truly able to heal people of any disease. Secondly, they were even able to heal animals and trees. By making clay models of those things and then creating vibrations or sounds, they could bring the dead trees and animals to life. Thirdly, they were also able to handle the energies of dead human beings or talk and relate to them continuously. In most cases they could bring a person back to life within three days of their death.

If this tribe related to ordinary persons through a clay image why is it mysterious or strange to relate with the Divine Energy that envelopes us and has created the whole Universe? This is where our ancestors succeeded us in giant leaps.

It is a common mistake to think that Hindus worship idols. In Hinduism, there is no idol worship, but only worship through idols. There is a big difference between idol worship and worshipping through an idol. When idols are created out of stone, clay, marble or any other material, you will not find anyone saying ‘Oh Stone, give me a boon’ or ‘Oh Marble, heal me.’ Instead, you will find them saying ‘Oh Shiva, heal me. Bless me,’ or ’ or ‘Oh Devi, bless me.’

Ignorance sets in with great speed when there is a rush to imitate what seems like another glamorous culture or other, so-called scientific cultures. This is even more so the case when there is no clear knowledge of the original practices and no patience to study the basis of such practices. Some western scholars translated the Indian scriptures, the Vedas, with the sole purpose of trying to prove that there was nothing worthy in them. Max Mueller translated the Vedas and in one of his letters, he mentioned with deep disrespect that he did this just to prove that nothing worthwhile could be found in them.

Many Eastern scholars have since picked up the same trend and the same thinking style. Without respect or a true scientific approach, they started condemning the Hindu worship practices, the culture and the way of life. They then began giving more importance to the Advaitic philosophy, one that believes only in the formless nature of God, condemning all other approaches. They didn’t understand that, together, all of it is a clear and practical, scientific system discovered and recorded by the rishis, saints and mystics.

The Vedic Sciences

A scientist is a person who creates a formula to re-create the same experience he has had in the outer world. He is able to reproduce this experience of the outer world in and for others. The one who is able to reproduce an experience that happens in the inner world is a mystic. These temples, rituals, poojas, homas, etc. are formulas created by our rishis to reproduce those inner world experiences in other beings. Misunderstandings, not understanding or not practicing these formulas due to lack of patience, guidance and knowledge does not make them untrue.

It is interesting to note some recent research conducted by a Japanese scientist, Dr. Masaru Emoto, who published his findings in a book named Hidden Messages From Water. He conducted more than 300 experiments where he has proved that water can hold, radiate and respond to our thoughts, further proving how thoughts directly affect human beings, especially because water constitutesthe majority of our physical body.

Rishis not only proved that water could carry thoughts and vibrations, but proved that the whole universe is constituted of thought and energy vibrations. It is alive and bubbling with our thoughts and emotions. Even Einstein said that there is no such thing as matter and energy existing separately from each other with boundaries between the two. He declared that the whole universe is energy. The last statement of science and quantum physics, saying that everything is energy, is the first statement of the first Veda of the first Upanishad. ‘Isha vashyam idam sarvam’ meaning, ‘whatever exists is energy.’

Our Vedic seers created so many methods and techniques to hold and radiate cosmic energy so that humanity can be helped by this positive energy. This whole universe and the universal energy are constituted of five elements, namely ether, air, water, fire and earth.

The Vedic scientists installed the energy first in the earth element in stone idols or moorties. Secondly, they did this with water or tirthas. Every temple has a tank or river. Thirdly, they installed it in fire or agni in the form of at least one lamp that is always lit. Next, they worked with air by filling it with the vibrations of Sanskrit mantras so that it vibrates with energy. Finally it was installed into ether or space. The temple architectures are created with a dome structure to hold energy like a battery would. If a bolt of lightning could be stored in a battery, we could supply electricity for any large city for more than one year.

These temples are created to hold enormous energy so that when Enlightened Masters come, they install their enlightened, universal energy into these structures. Our Masters have designed beautiful batteries in the form of temples that can hold this energy and radiate it to help millions of people for thousands of years. It is because of the concentrated energy in the central dome structure, the garbhamandir, that our prayers are realized.

The garbha mandirsof temples hold high, intense potential energies created by Enlightened Masters and maintained by regular pujas and mantra chanting. Continuous repetition of Sanskrit mantras charges the whole space and keeps it vibrantly alive. When you stand in front of the energized moorthi or in the temple space and create a thought or wish, your whole body and mind will be tuned to that thought. So, naturally it will become a reality in your life.

Rishis not only proved that water could carry thoughts and vibrations, but proved that the whole universe is constituted of thought and energy vibrations. It is alive and bubbling with our thoughts and emotions. Even Einstein said that there is no such thing as matter and energy existing separately from each other with boundaries between the two. He declared that the whole universe is energy.

Whatever Exists is Energy

The last statement of science and quantum physics, saying that everything is energy, is the first statement of the first Veda of the first Upanishad. "Isha vashyam idam sarvam"- "whatever exists is energy."

Our Vedic seers created so many methods and techniques to hold and radiate cosmic energy so that humanity can be helped by this positive energy.

This whole universe and the universal energy are constituted of five elements, namely ether, air, water, fire and earth. The Vedic scientists installed the energy first in the earth element in stone idols or moorties. Secondly, they did this with water or tirthas. Every temple has a tank or river. Thirdly, they installed it in fire or agni in the form of at least one lamp that is always lit. Next, they worked with air by filling it with the vibrations of Sanskrit mantras so that it vibrates with energy. Finally it was installed into ether or space. The temple architectures are created with a dome structure to hold energy like a battery would. If a bolt of lightning could be stored in a battery, we could supply electricity for any large city for more than one year.

The Importance of Temples

These temples are created to hold enormous energy so that when enlightened Masters come, they install their enlightened, universal energy into these structures. Our Masters have designed beautiful batteries in the form of temples that can hold this energy and radiate it to help millions of people for thousands of years. It is because of the concentrated energy in the central dome structure, the garbha mandir, that our prayers become a reality. The science behind the realization of prayers can be explained with this example. Anything kept in front of a projector light will be seen on the screen. If you keep a slide of a temple scene, you will see the temple. If you keep a slide of an actor or actress, you will see their image.

In the same manner, any thought kept in front of a concentrated energy field will become a reality. The garbha mandirs of temples hold high, intense potential energies created by Enlightened Masters and maintained by regular poojas and mantra chanting. Continuous repetition of Sanskrit mantras charges the whole space and keeps it vibrantly alive. When you stand in front of the energized moorthy or in the temple space and create a thought or wish, your whole body and mind will be tuned to that thought. So, naturally it will become a reality in your life.

In the temples, in the energized space, two things will happen. You will have shakti, the energy to transform your dreams into reality. More importantly, you will have buddhi or the intelligence to realize that what you see or think of as a permanent reality is itself a dream. Enlightened Masters designed these temples because they wanted sacred spaces available that could continuously heal, inspire and give humanity an experience of spirituality. These temples are spiritual incubators.

The Four Elements

The energizing process of these temples itself is one of the most fascinating aspects of our spiritual sciences. According to the Taitriya Upanishad:

from akasha or ether came air or vayu

from vayu came fire or agni

from agni came water or apu

from apu came the earth or bhoomi and finally, everything else.

In this manner the energy is harnessed. It is understood that this Cosmic Energy exists beyond ether, beyond space, as Atman or atmashakti.

through visualization or meditation this energy is brought to ‘akashshakti’ or ether, space.

from ether through verbalization or mantras it is brought to the air through fire rituals such as homas it is brought to the fire

from the fire to the kumbha or water

and finally, this energy is installed in the bimba or the idol, moorty or vigraha inside the garbhamandir of the temple.

When the energy is installed in the idol through this process, called pranapratishta, it is no longer an idol or stone statue. It becomes a deity or archavatar with different incarnations and expressions of God. The Upanishads beautifully explain how the Brahmanda expresses itself in the form of pindanda through the deities.

Cosmic Energy

This Cosmic Energy radiates itself, making itself available to us through these moorties, statues or vigrahas. One can derive enormous benefits by understanding this science and becomes more sensitive and available to the healing benefits of the Cosmic Energy.

Idols are the windows through which we can see and relate with the vast sky or Brahmanda. For example, let’s say someone with a cell phone visited a culture that had no idea about phones. They would not believe him when he states that he can speak to people on the other side of the world with the tiny device or instrument. When he proved that he could do this, then he would be revered by the people as a great saint with all worship and respect.

This is exactly what happened with the Saints of the East also. Temples are cell phones. In those days, everyone was able to relate to the Brahmanda through these structures. But in modern times, with the cultural invasion, ignorance has led to strong disbeliefs and misuse of such powerful resources. Now only a few are able to operate these ‘cell phones’ and the younger generation is not able to believe that these ‘cell phones’ actually work.

There are only a few who can install the Cosmic Energy into temples and few fully understand or give any credence to this scientific process. Secondly, if at all you saw some proof of a person using it, then you would call him a great saint and enlightened person. These ‘cell phones’, the temples, work and it is very easy to use them to make a call to the Divine. It is for the common person and the common public - for all of us.

Temples have also played a major role in preserving the culture and society of India, through more than 10,000 years of recorded history. Despite countless invasions, the society and culture of India has endured. There is no culture or civilization that has not invaded India and no culture or civilization has ever suffered an invasion by India.

Temples in the Modern Day

In the modern day, societies and civilizations that are just a few hundred years old are shaking as younger generations question and rebel against them. They are laden with confusion and depression and their cultures have no reliable system to help address the core issues.

These temples were broken and destroyed repeatedly but they continued to be rebuilt. They stand in a much more beautiful way every time. For example, the Vishwanath Temple was destroyed more than fourteen times and the Somanath Temple was destroyed more than seventy times.

All major temples of India were destroyed at least ten times, but they stand up again and again because they are more than just physical structures. They are like satellite relay centers where the high intense spiritual energy is created and from which it radiates.

These spiritual vibrations are created and sent all over the world to help heal human beings physically, mentally, emotionally and above all, spiritually. It is we who are supposed to understand the science behind this and take the responsibility to learn how to tune ourselves to and relate with this Cosmic Energy in order to derive the benefits from this higher energy. It is we who are supposed to discover the keys to unlock these inner treasures

Meditation is the Master Key

Meditation is the key to unlock this door and experience the inner treasures. Meditation is the number through which we can ‘call’ and activate a connection to relate with this higher energy. Meditation is the master key for us to relate to the higher energy available to us in the form of moorties or deities.

The deities allow us to see and experience the Brahmanda or the Cosmic Energy so that we may have all the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits. The intelligent, enlightened seers passionately handed over practical techniques to tune ourselves to this Cosmic Energy. It is our responsibility to see how religion and temples are relevant to spirituality.

The day-to-day practice of religion can be transformed into spirituality. When done with awareness, any ritual can become a meditation technique. There are beautiful ways to bring spirituality into religion and it is time for us to learn how to transform religion into spirituality. Temples, the repositories of Vedic truth, are an essential way to make and maintain this connection with the Divine.